Sri Lankan government completes technical evaluation of automated railway ticketing system
The technical evaluation of the project of Sri Lanka’s first automated railway ticketing system, or ticketing gates, has reached completion and price bidding is set to open today (17), the local media has reported.
Earlier this year, The Sunday Morning Business exclusively reported that the automated train ticketing system will be implemented islandwide by the end of this year. However, following the Easter tragedy, it is unclear if the original timeline for its implementation is still applicable.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the US$ 20 million project is expected to revolutionise Sri Lanka’s obsolete railway station network with world-class imported machines to provide convenience to long-suffering passengers, the report states.
Following the implementation of the automated train ticketing system, commuters will be able to do away with long queues as tickets can be bought in four different ways: an app on the phone, vending machine, electronic card at gates, or purchasing tickets from the counter as usual.
The Sunday Morning Business has reported that the technical evaluation of the tender proposals, which were received earlier this year, was completed recently. Four Chinese companies have been shortlisted through the evaluation to take part in the price bidding which is to begin Monday, 17 June.
The price bid opening will be followed by price evaluation and the whole process will take about three to four weeks where a competitive bidder will be selected. In addition, an evaluation report will also be compiled.
The compiled report will then be sent to ADB, which has already disbursed the full amount of $ 20 million for this project, for its approval. Following the approval, the report will be submitted for Cabinet approval. This entire process is expected to take another three weeks’ time, The Sunday Morning Business has stated.
As the first phase, the automated ticketing system will be implemented at 50 main railway stations which are already selected. Depending on the response and demand from the passengers, the automated system will then be implemented islandwide, the report has added.
OSL take:
The automated railway ticketing project is indicative of the many areas covered by Sri Lanka’s on going development programme. Therefore, foreign businesses could explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s development agenda.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/19062019/Z_4 |